§258unde sumam? quem intervortam? quo hanc celocem conferam?
Where shall I get it? Whom shall I cheat? Whither shall I direct this swift boat?
§259impetritum, inauguratumst: quovis admittunt aves, §260picus et cornix ab laeva, corvos parra ab dextera §261consuadent; certum herclest vostram consequi sententiam.
The omen is obtained, the augury is made: the birds admit me anywhere, the woodpecker and the crow on the left, the raven and the owl on the right persuade me; by Hercules, I am determined to follow your counsel.
§262sed quid hoc, quod picus ulmum tundit? non temerariumst.
But what is this, that a woodpecker is pecking at an elm? It is not accidental.
§263certe hercle ego quantum ex augurio éius pici intellego, §264aut mihi in mundo sunt virgae aut atriensi Saureae.
Certainly, by Hercules, as far as I understand from the augury of that woodpecker, either rods are ready for me, or for the steward Saurea.
§265sed quid illúc, quod exanimatus currit huc Leonida?
But what is that, that Leonida is running here out of breath?
§266metuo quom illic obscaevavit meae falsae fallaciae.
I fear lest he has brought a bad omen for my false trick.
§267Vbi ego nunc Libanum requiram aut familiarem filium, §268ut ego illos lubentiores faciam quam Lubentiast?
Where shall I now seek Libanus or our master's son, so that I may make them more joyful than Joy herself?
§269maximam praedam et triumphum eis adfero adventu meo.
I bring them the greatest booty and a triumph by my arrival.
§270quando mecum pariter potant, pariter scortari solent, §271hanc quidem, quam nactus, praedam pariter cum illis partiam.
Since they are accustomed to drink together with me and play the whore together, this booty indeed, which I have obtained, I will share together with them.
§272Illic homo aedis compilavit, more si fecit suo.
That fellow has robbed a house, if he has acted according to his custom.
§273vae illi, qui tam indiligenter observavit ianuam.
Woe to him who watched the door so carelessly.
§274Aetatem velim servire, Libanum ut conveniam modo.
I would be willing to be a slave for a lifetime, if only I may meet Libanus.
§275Mea quidem hercle ópera liber numquam fies ocius.
By my help indeed, by Hercules, you will never become free any sooner.
§276Etiam de tergo ducentas plagas praegnatis dabo.
I will even pay two hundred heavy blows from my back.
§277Largitur peculium, omnem in tergo thensaurum gerit.
He is generous with his savings; he carries his whole treasure on his back.
§278Nam si huic sése occasioni tempus supterduxerit, §279numquam edepol quadrigis albis indipiscet postea; §280erum in óbsidione linquet, inimicum animos auxerit.
For if time steals itself away from this opportunity, by Pollux, he will never overtake it afterwards even with white horses; he will leave his master in a siege, and will have increased the enemy's courage.
§281sed si mecum occasionem opprimere hanc, quae obvenit, studet, §282maximas opimitates, gaudio exfertissimas §283suis eris ille una mecum pariet, gnatoque et patri, §284adeo ut aetatem ambo ambobus nobis sint obnoxii, §285nostro devincti beneficio.
But if he is eager to seize with me this opportunity which has presented itself, the greatest abundance, stuffed full of joy, he will produce together with me for his masters, both son and father, so that both of them will be indebted to both of us for a lifetime, bound by our kindness.
He speaks of some bound men; I don't like it: I fear he has committed some fraud to the common danger.
§287Perii ego oppido, nisi Libanum invenio iam, ubiubi est gentium.
I am utterly ruined, unless I find Libanus now, wherever in the world he is.
§288Illic homó socium ad malam rem quaerit quem adiungat sibi.
That fellow is seeking a partner in a bad business to join to himself.
§289non placet: pro monstro extemplo est, quando qui sudat tremit.
I don't like it: it is straightway a bad omen when one who sweats shivers.
§290Sed quid ego hic properans concesso pedibus, lingua largior?
But why do I, hurrying here, yield with my feet but am more generous with my tongue?
§291quin ego hanc iubeo tacere, quae loquens lacerat diem?
Why do I not order this tongue to be silent, which by speaking wastes the day?
§292Edepol hominem ínfelicem, qui patronam comprimat.
By Pollux, an unhappy man who would silence his patroness!
§293nam si quid sceleste fecit, lingua pro illo perierat.
For if he did anything wickedly, his tongue would have perished for him.
§294Adproperabo, ne post tempus praedae praesidium parem.
I will hasten, lest I prepare protection for the booty after the proper time.
§295Quae illaec praeda est? ibo advorsum atque electabo, quidquid est.
What is that booty? I will go to meet him and worm out whatever it is.
§296iubeo te salvere voce summa, quo ad vires valent.
I bid you greeting with my loudest voice, as far as my strength prevails.
§297Gymnasium flagri, salveto.
O gymnasium of the whip, greeting!
§297bQuid agis, custos carceris?
How do you do, keeper of the prison?
§298O catenarum colone.
O cultivator of chains!
§298bO virgarum lascivia.
O plaything of rods!
§299Quot pondo ted esse censes nudum?
How many pounds do you think you weigh when naked?
§299bNon edepol scio.
By Pollux, I don't know.
§300Scibam ego te nescire, at pol ego, qui ted expendi, scio: §301nudus vinctus centum pondo es, quando pendes per pedes.
I knew you didn't know; but by Pollux, I who have weighed you know: naked and bound, you weigh a hundred pounds when you hang by your feet.
§302Quo argumento istuc?
By what proof is that?
§302bEgo dicam, quo argumento et quo modo.
I will tell you, by what proof and in what manner.
§303ad pedes quando adligatumst aequom centumpondium, §304ubi manus manicae complexae sunt atque adductae ad trabem, §305nec dependes nec propendes—quin malus nequamque sis.
When a weight of a hundred pounds is tied to your feet, and when handcuffs have clasped your hands and they are drawn up to the beam, you neither hang down nor bend forward—except that you are a bad and worthless fellow.
§306Vae tibi.
Woe to you.
§306bHoc testamento Servitus legat tibi.
Slavery bequeaths this to you by her will.
§307Verbivelitationem fieri compendi volo.
I want this skirmish of words to be cut short.
§308Quid istud est negoti?
What business is that?
§308bCertum est credere.
I am resolved to trust you.
§308cAudacter licet.
You may do so boldly.
§309Sis amanti subvenire familiari filio, §310tantum adest boni improviso, verum commixtum malo: §311omnes de nobis carnificum concelebrabuntur dies.
If you are willing to help our master's loving son, so much good is at hand unexpectedly, but mixed with evil: all the days of the executioners will be celebrated concerning us.
§312Libane, nunc audacia usust nobis inventa et dolis.
Libanus, now we have need of bold readiness and devised tricks.
§313tantum facinus modo invéni ego, ut nos dicamur duo §314omnium dignissumi esse, quo cruciatus confluant.
I have just found such a great deed, that we two may be said to be the most worthy of all, into whom tortures should flow.
§315Ergo mirabar quod dudum scapulae gestibant mihi, §316hariolari quae occeperunt, sibi esse in mundo malum.
Therefore I was wondering why just now my shoulder-blades were itching, which have begun to prophesy that trouble is in store for them.
§317quidquid est, eloquere.
Whatever it is, speak out.
§317bMagna est praeda cum magno malo.
It is a great booty with great evil.
§318Si quidem omnes coniurati cruciamenta conferant, §319habeo opinor familiare tergum, ne quaeram foris.
If indeed all executioners, having conspired, should bring together their tortures, I think I have a well-acquainted back, so that I need not look for one outside.
§320Si istam firmitudinem animi óptines, salvi sumus.
If you maintain that firmness of mind, we are safe.
§321Quin si tergo res solvenda est, rapere cupio publicum: §322pernegabo atque obdurabo, periurabo denique.
Nay, if the matter is to be paid for with my back, I am eager to rob the public treasury: I will deny it utterly, and I will endure, and finally I will perjure myself.
§323Em ista virtus est, quando usust qui malum fert fortiter;
Lo, that is virtue, when there is need, for one who bears evil bravely;